Meeting the Moment - The Best of Season 3 | Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

SEASON 3 BONUS EPISODE - How to Make Any Application Stand Out — The MATCH ME Formula with Dr Vicki Johnson

If you've ever been told your goals are too high, your credentials aren't strong enough, or you should have a backup plan — this episode is your answer. Dr. Vicki Johnson, founder of ProFellow and author of Pitch Your Potential, built a 7-part formula for winning competitive opportunities that has helped her community secure over $500 million in merit-based awards. In this conversation, she breaks down the MATCH ME Formula® and shows you how to apply it to jobs, fellowships, promotions, board seats, and any opportunity where you need to make a case for yourself. This one hits differently right now — we recorded it in the middle of one of the most disruptive job markets in recent memory, with tens of thousands of professionals navigating layoffs and wondering how to stand out when every application looks the same. In this episode, you'll learn: - What the MATCH ME Formula® is and why it works better than a stronger résumé - Why selectors care more about your future than your past — and how to pitch it - How to show mission alignment so powerfully that credentials become secondary - What "elegant" means in an application and why it signals emotional intelligence - Why authentic desire is your biggest competitive edge — even against more qualified candidates - How to use LinkedIn as a network map, not a feed - What to do when fear of rejection shows up (hint: it's a signal, not a stop sign) 📌 CHAPTERS 0:00 — Opening Hook 2:00 — Dr. Vicki Johnson's Origin Story 5:00 — What Selectors Actually Want 7:10 — The MATCH ME Formula® Explained 13:00 — Guides vs. Gatekeepers 17:00 — Authentic Desire & Fear of Failure 22:00 — Job Searching in a Layoff Market 26:00 — The Winning Application Story Arc 30:00 — LinkedIn — Still Worth It? 35:00 — ProFellow: Fellowships Demystified 38:00 — Dr. Johnson's Final Advice 👤 ABOUT DR. VICKI JOHNSON Dr. Vicki Johnson is a speaker, author, and four-time fellowship winner who has spent her career helping ambitious professionals win elite opportunities. She is the founder of ProFellow — the leading U.S. platform for competitive fellowships, graduate programs, and leadership accelerators, with more than nine million readers globally. Through her coaching and the ProFellow platform, she has helped her community secure over $500 million in merit-based funding awards. Her book, Pitch Your Potential: The Formula for Winning Dream Jobs, Awards, and Elite Opportunities, introduces the MATCH ME Formula® — a proven seven-part framework for crafting applications that stand out at every career stage. 🔗 Find Dr. Vicki Johnson: 🌐 ProFellow: https://www.profellow.com 👩‍💼 drvickijohnson.com 🔗 RESOURCES 📘 Free Reset Guide: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/ 🌐 Website: https://giantstepsllc.com 📚 Books: https://giantstepsllc.com/books 📬 Work with Leilani: https://giantstepsllc.com/contact 📰 Newsletter: https://giantstepsllc.substack.com 👋 ABOUT GIANT STEPS WITH LEILANI BROWN Giant Steps with Leilani Brown is a podcast about the pivotal decisions, bold reinventions, and daring choices that shape meaningful work and lives. Leilani Brown is the Founder & CEO of Giant Steps, LLC — a consulting firm supporting leaders and institutions at the intersection of strategy, culture, career, and education. She is a global keynote speaker and the author of three books on career strategy and professional development. #GiantSteps #GiantStepsLLC #DowellDoGood #CuriousLeilani #CareerAdvice #PitchYourPotential

Meeting the Moment - The Best of Season 3 | Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

In the Season 3 finale of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, host Leilani Brown looks back at a season intentionally built to meet the moment of mass layoffs, AI disruption, and career uncertainty. This best-of episode features curated clips and the six key lessons from Season 3’s most impactful guests.   Dr. Helen Riess, a Harvard psychiatrist, explains why self-compassion—not self-criticism—is the strongest foundation for rebuilding after job loss. Career strategist Rachel Tully introduces the Boa Constrictor Approach, a targeted job search method she used to land a role at Tesla. Certified financial planner Michael Daniels walks through the first financial steps after a layoff, from applying for unemployment to protecting your 401(k). Bestselling author Minda Harts shares her Seven Trust Languages framework for rebuilding workplace trust during restructuring. Jocelyn Lincoln, a transformational marketing and talent leader, poses the question every leader should ask: if people weren’t paid, would they still follow you? And executive producer Jirah Mickel puts Leilani in the hot seat for unscripted rapid-fire career advice.   Whether you’re navigating a career transition, leading a team through change, or looking for practical guidance in uncertain times, this episode delivers actionable advice from experts who’ve been there. Season 4 is coming—subscribe now so you don’t miss it. 0:00 – Welcome & Season 3 Overview 2:34 – Theme Music / Show Intro 3:01 – Dr. Helen Riess: Self-Compassion After Job Loss 5:04 – Rachel Tully: The Boa Constrictor Approach 7:37 – Michael Daniels, CFP®: Financial Clarity in a Crisis 9:50 – Minda Harts: The Seven Trust Languages 13:57 – Jocelyn Lincoln: Would They Follow You Without a Paycheck? 16:59 – Leilani Brown: Trust Your Own Knowing 19:26 – The 6 Lessons of Season 3 21:17 – Season Wrap-Up & Season 4 Coming Soon Download our free career guide - resetguide.giantstepsllc.com

Why This Leadership Expert Says the Black Church Is the Most Overlooked Leadership Incubator in America | L. Michelle Smith

What if the most powerful leadership development program in America isn’t at Harvard or McKinsey — but has been operating in Black churches for centuries? L. Michelle Smith — award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, ICF certified executive coach, and CEO of No Silos Communications — joins Leilani to make the case that the Black church is the most overlooked leadership incubator in this country. Her new book, Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church, draws on cultural history, applied neuroscience, and positive psychology to show how the skills forged in that experience — communication, resilience, community building, and purpose — are exactly what today’s leaders need. And these lessons aren’t just for Black people or churchgoers. They’re for anyone who wants to lead with more empathy and more power. In this episode: — The AT&T keynote that generated 25 million impressions and launched the question: “Where did you learn to speak like that?” — Why emotional intelligence — not communication — is the least obvious leadership lesson from the church — How online church became “like Bumble” and what that reveals about workplace communication breakdowns — The science of hope theory: why hopeful people are better planners, goal setters, and strategists — What it means to create “safe soil” for emerging leaders — and why ropes courses won’t cut it — Why young people are the most important — and least obvious — audience for this book — Plus, a surprise appearance from Rev Run that ties the whole origin story together About L. Michelle Smith: L. Michelle Smith is an award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, ICF certified executive coach, and CEO and founder of No Silos Communications. She is the executive producer and host of the Culture Soup Podcast, a contributor to HuffPost Voices, and her work has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and Black Enterprise. She has spoken on stages including South by Southwest and the Essence Festival. Her new book Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church [https://www.lmichellesmith.com] is available now. Find L. Michelle: LMichelleSmith.com [LMichelleSmith.com] | Instagram | LinkedIn | Threads Giant Steps is a production of Giant Steps LLC, a company working at the intersection of strategy, culture, career, and education.  Learn more at GiantStepsLLC.com. [giantstepsllc.com] Tags/Keywords: leadership, leadership development, Black church, call and response, leadership incubator, positive psychology, hope theory, neuroscience, emotional intelligence, executive coaching, Gen Z, workplace communication, community building, resilience, L. Michelle Smith, Black leadership

If People Weren’t Paid, Would They Follow You? (A Leadership Wake-Up Call)

Episode Title: If People Weren’t Paid, Would They Follow You? (A Leadership Wake-Up Call) What actually motivates people to follow a leader — beyond a paycheck?What happens when belief, trust, and clarity matter more than compensation?And how do leaders need to evolve as work, talent, and expectations continue to change? In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Jocelyn Lincoln, a transformational marketing and talent leader, for a candid conversation about leadership, growth, and the human side of work. Jocelyn shares her career journey — from her first job in financial services to executive leadership roles across staffing and healthcare — and the lessons she’s learned along the way about people, purpose, and performance. Drawing on her experience as a Fractional CMO and executive advisor, Jocelyn unpacks how the workforce has evolved, including the rise of flexible and contingent work, the impact of automation and AI, and the growing talent shortages reshaping industries like healthcare. She also reflects on her experience leading a political campaign, where motivating volunteers offered a powerful lesson in leadership without pay — and why belief may be one of the most underestimated leadership tools. Together, Leilani and Jocelyn explore what it really takes to lead in today’s environment — and why growth, at every level, ultimately comes down to people. Whether you’re a leader, manager, or professional navigating change — or questioning whether your leadership would hold without a paycheck — this episode offers perspective, clarity, and a much-needed leadership reset. * What it means to lead when money isn’t the motivator * Why belief, trust, and clarity are essential leadership tools * How flexible and contingent work has reshaped careers * The impact of AI and automation on today’s workforce * What healthcare talent shortages reveal about leadership gaps * Why defining your personal value proposition matters * Lessons from leading volunteer workforces and political campaigns Jocelyn Lincoln Jocelyn Lincoln is a Fractional CMO with Chief Outsiders and a transformational marketing and talent leader with more than two decades of experience across staffing, healthcare, and growth strategy. She works with CEOs and leadership teams to drive growth through clarity, alignment, and execution, helping organizations rethink how they attract, retain, and lead talent in a rapidly changing workforce. Leilani BrownWebsite → https://giantstepsllc.com [https://giantstepsllc.com]Instagram → @giantstepsllc Jocelyn LincolnLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynlincoln/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynlincoln/] Website / Chief Outsiders → https://www.chiefoutsiders.com/ [https://www.chiefoutsiders.com/]  🎁 Free guide: Your Next Giant Reset™ — a step-by-step resource for navigating loss, layoffs, and planning your comeback.👉 Download it here: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/#page=1 [https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/#page=1] 📚 More free resources & writing:Read the Giant Steps blog and download additional resources on Substack →👉 https://giantstepsllc.substack.com/ [https://giantstepsllc.substack.com/] #GiantSteps #Leadership #FutureOfWork #WorkforceStrategy #TalentLeadership #CareerGrowth #AI #CareerTransitions

Beyond Nonviolence: Reflections on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What does leadership demand in moments of national reflection? How should service, responsibility, and moral courage guide those preparing to lead? And what does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy ask of us today? This episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown is different. What you’re about to hear is a formal address Leilani delivered at The Citadel, one of the nation’s six senior military colleges and home to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets — where leadership training and a commitment to service are central to the institution’s mission. Titled “Dr. King’s Legacy: Beyond Nonviolence,” this speech was delivered on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday last year, which also coincided with Inauguration Day — making it a powerful moment for reflection on values, responsibility, and moral leadership. This episode is publishing on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday, and felt like the right moment to share these words in his honor. In this address, Leilani reflects on: * Dr. King’s enduring moral legacy * What leadership requires beyond titles and positions * The responsibility that comes with education, service, and power * Why integrity, courage, and action still matter * The timeless call to do what is right — even when it is difficult Please note: this episode is audio-only, as there is no video from the original event — but you can listen to the full address here on YouTube. Leilani closes with Dr. King’s reminder: “The time is always right to do what is right.” 🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and iHeartRadio. 👉 Subscribe for more reflections and conversations that explore leadership, work, and growth with clarity and purpose. Each week, Leilani Brown — author, career coach, and founder of Giant Steps LLC — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through conversations and reflections, the show helps listeners navigate change, build resilience, and lead with intention. About the Show — Giant Steps with Leilani Brown Each week, Leilani Brown — author, career coach, and founder of Giant Steps LLC — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through conversations with experts, innovators, and thought leaders, the show helps listeners navigate transitions, build resilience, and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.